[궁궐의 장식그림] Royal taste in art revealed

Curious what kind of paintings the king of Joseon had hanging in his bedroom?

Visitors can find out at the exhibition "Decorative Paintings of Joseon Palaces" underway at the National Palace Museum of Korea in Sajik-dong, central Seoul.

It showcases 58 sliding door paintings and two wall paintings found in Changdeok Palace. Most of the exhibits are being shown to the public for the first time.

There are no records on where exactly the paintings were hung. Regarding the theme of the paintings, however, experts suggest that they must have been placed in the king or the queen's private rooms.

Colorful "Phoenixes" and "Peacocks," all the way from Philadelphia Museum of Art's collection, and "Sibjangsang," or 10 immortal animal characters, are known to have symbolized the divinity of the royal authority or were a means to wish for the royal family's happiness and long healthy lives.

"This will also be an opportunity to see the different uses of traditional window papers and sliding doors that were crucial in organizing the interior space," said museum director Jeong Jong-su at the opening ceremony last week.

A video at the exhibition re-enacts the palaces adorned with the paintings.

The exhibition runs through July 5. Admission is free. Audio guides are available in Korean, Chinese, Japanese and English for 1,000 won.

For more information, call (02) 3701-7634~5 or visit www.gogung.go.kr

By Park Min-young

(claire@heraldm.com)